Nghe An: Establishing trade unions in enterprises still faces many difficulties

BARRIERS

Grassroots trade unions (GCTUs) are grassroots organizations of trade unions, gathering union members in agencies, units, and enterprises directly recognized by higher-level trade unions according to the provisions of Vietnamese law and the Charter of Vietnam Trade Unions. It can be seen that the GTUs are the closest organizations, participating in representing and protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests of workers. However, not everyone clearly understands the functions, tasks, benefits, and methods of operation of the trade union organization. This leads to difficulties in propaganda and mobilization.establish trade union, especially in private enterprises.

Grassroots trade unions are grassroots organizations of trade unions, gathering union members in agencies, units, and enterprises directly recognized by higher-level trade unions. Photo: Contributor

As someone who has participated in the establishment of grassroots unions for many years, Ms. Tran Thi Nguyet - Vice President of the Southeast Economic Zone Union said: “There are many misunderstandings that make business owners hesitate when invited to join a union. One of the most common misunderstandings is the payment of union fees. They think that if they join a union, they will lose 2% of their salary, not understanding that, even if they do not establish a union, businesses are still obliged to pay 2% of their salary fund to the union every month as a basis for paying social insurance for employees.”

“The size of the enterprise is also one of the reasons leading to difficulties in establishing a grassroots trade union in the province. Enterprises in the province are mainly small-scale enterprises, employing few and unstable workers (accounting for 83%). These enterprises do not have a grassroots Party organization, and the awareness and perception of business owners in complying with labor and trade union laws is limited. They do not pay due attention to workers, and do not consider workers as an important resource for business development...”, said Ms. Phan Thi Trang - Head of the Organizing Committee of the Provincial Federation of Labor.

Without trade unions, business owners and workers will find it difficult to find common ground and conflicts will easily arise. Photo: Contributor

In addition to objective reasons and misunderstandings, many business owners deliberately delay or refuse to establish a grassroots trade union because they are afraid that after joining the trade union, workers will understand the law better and demand more benefits. They do not understand that understanding, progress in qualifications and awareness of workers and business owners are the keys to long-term and sustainable development. An effective grassroots trade union can helpbalance of interestsof employers and employees, thereby contributing to improving the production and business efficiency of enterprises.

According to the law, trade unions are established on a voluntary basis, organized and operated according to the principle of democratic centralism, and are not the obligation or responsibility of the enterprise. Therefore, to convince employers to agree to establish a grassroots trade union, trade union officials must be proactive and creative in their advocacy.

PERSISTENT AND SINCERE

Every union official is a propagandist - this saying is truly true when talking about the work of union officials who work to establish grassroots unions. For them, to complete their tasks, they need not only tact, reasoning, and understanding but also sincerity and patience.

The establishment ceremony of the Trade Union at an FDI enterprise. Photo: Contributor

Talking about the times she campaigned to establish a grassroots trade union at enterprises, Ms. Phan Le Hoe - President of the Hoang Mai Town Labor Federation still remembers the time she campaigned to establish a grassroots trade union at an FDI enterprise whose boss was a Korean. During the working sessions between the District Labor Federation and the company's leaders, she and her colleagues had to discuss carefully with the interpreter because the language difference could make the content not be conveyed completely and accurately.

Ms. Hoe confided: “Although the content exchange was smooth, the Korean director still had not made a final decision. Knowing that this was the director’s first visit to Vietnam, we proactively invited him to have breakfast and learn more about Vietnamese cuisine in a sincere manner. In the friendly, cheerful atmosphere of those multilingual conversations, we became friends, easily sharing and exchanging. This made the establishment of the company’s trade union happen faster, and union activities at the company more convenient.”

Leaders of VietGlory Company Limited thanked the Dien Chau District Labor Federation for their support in resolving the strike and expressed their wish to soon establish a grassroots trade union. Photo: DT

In many enterprises, union officials not only explain the law and convince with reason, but also have to be extremely patient and persistent with enterprises and workers. This is also the method that union officials of the Dien Chau District Labor Federation have applied.

To persuade local businesses to establish trade unions, the Dien Chau District Labor Federation has repeatedly visited and given gifts to workers and businesses, invited businesses to participate in exchange and training programs organized by the union, and given them attention as a grassroots trade union... In response to these goodwills, many businesses still showed indifference, coldness, and even refused to accept gifts. This did not discourage union officials. The fact that the District Labor Federation is concerned and accompanies company leaders in solvingstrike at VietGlory Company Limitedis the clearest proof of this. Immediately after the workers returned to work as usual, the company's management board requested the District Labor Federation to support the establishment of a grassroots trade union at the company as soon as possible. They understood that it was not always possible to get the opinions of all workers, especially in enterprises that employ many workers. Having an organization representing the collective of workers is really necessary to ensure harmonious labor relations, balance the interests of all parties, thereby maintaining the stability and development of the enterprise.

The Trade Union helps workers feel secure in production and maintains harmonious labor relations for the enterprise. Photo: DT

Persistence and sincerity are also the methods that the Dong Nam Economic Zone Union has been applying. Ms. Tran Thi Nguyet - Vice President of the UnionSoutheast Economic Zoneshared: “In addition to units that are easily persuaded after a few working sessions, there are even enterprises that proactively seek to establish a grassroots trade union, but there are also units that delay for years. According to regulations, if employees have a need, the enterprise must create favorable conditions for the union to be established and union officials can completely switch to mobilizing employees instead of persuading the enterprise. However, because we do not want to create antagonism from the beginning between the enterprise and the employees, we always prioritize the approach of perseverance and sincerity, even though it will take a lot of time and effort.”

As of January 31, 2021, the province had 4,441 non-state enterprises with headquarters and operating with 59,881 employees, of which 485 enterprises had established trade unions with 55,215 union members. Of the 4,388 enterprises: 323 enterprises had 25 or more employees, 283 enterprises had established trade unions; 402 enterprises had 10 to 25 employees, 227 enterprises had established trade unions. Up to now, there are still 40 enterprises with more than 25 employees and 175 enterprises with 10 to 25 employees that have not yet established trade unions.